Be sure to include your name, daytime phone number, address, name and phone number of legal next-of-kin, method of payment, and the name of the funeral home/crematory to contact for verification of death.

KC Mayor Sly James would perform gay marriages if he could

“I do not have legal ability to issue marriage licenses. Would if I could.” — Kansas City Mayor Sly James on Twitter in response to the news out of St. Louis where four gay couples were married Wednesday in Mayor Francis Slay’s office. James was saying he’d be willing to do the same thing.

The wedding ceremonies were held to provoke a court fight over the issue. In fact, on Thursday Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, who is charged to enforce the state’s constitution, sued the city over the matter because of Missouri’s ban on same-sex marriage. In St. Louis, the city attorney authorized the same-sex marriages because he believes the Missouri ban is unconstitutional.

“Howard has left a lasting imprint on civility in politics.” — former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole on the passing of former Senate GOP leader Howard Baker.

No truer statement could be said about the man from Tennessee whose legacy will be exactly what Dole says here. Today’s leaders from both parties who engage in this never-ending game of tit-for-tat in D.C. come off as pipsqueaks compared to Baker who understood when it was time to compromise for the right cause. No wonder Baker’s nickname was “The Great Conciliator.”

“The Obama administration has a bad habit of sidestepping Congress and ignoring the Constitution when they find it politically convenient.” — Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, a Republican, on the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision Thursday that President Obama violated the Constitution by going around the Senate to name key labor relations watchdogs.

The White House said it was “deeply disappointed” by the ruling. But score one for the Republicans who have maintained for months that Obama has repeatedly exceeded his authority in carrying out his duties.

“I’m not a doctor either, but if a bunch of doctors tell me that tobacco can cause lung cancer, then I’ll say, okay. Right? I mean, it’s not that hard.” — President Obama on Wednesday night mocking those who refuse to acknowledge climate change.

The president, however, did not mention that he smokes, despite scientific evidence that the habit can cause health problems down the road.

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